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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "peter" <pzn2@plws3a.info>
Reply-To: "peter" <peternkosiprs@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 11:44:07 -0700
Subject: partnership

Good Day,
 
My name is Peter Nkosi, a Director with the contract award committee of Eskom
Company Ltd, Republic of South Africa. It is my profound intention to contact you for this very important and highly confidential transaction for the transfer of US$18,500, 000.00 into your account. The Eighteen million, Five hundred thousand ($18,500,000.00) was the overestimated balance from the contracts awarded to both foreign and local contractors the real contract value was One hundred and Twenty million united states dollars ($120 000 000), but it was over estimated to the tune of (US$138,500, 000, 00) One hundred and Thirty Eight million, Five Hundred Thousand united states dollars only.
 
The contract has been successfully executed by the contractors and their contract sum of (US$120M) has been paid to them, leaving our overestimated balance of (US$18,500, 000. 00) United States dollars still pending at the bank. Right now, we are left with this overestimated balance of (US$18.5M) which is still floating at the escrow account in the South African reserve bank awaiting final payment to any reliable foreign bank account you may provide.
 
I’m prepared to offer you 30% of the fund after a successful transfer into your nominated bank account.
 
Please get back to me for further communication.
 
Kind Regards,
Peter Nkosi
Tel:         00 27 840498147

Anti-fraud resources: